Time to put people first

AFTER weeks of tortuous negotiations Boris Johnson has finally emerged with a Brexit deal.

Those welcoming this breakthrough would be wise to keep the champagne on ice.

The PM is having to scramble for votes to get the agreement through the Commons.

The DUP will play a major role when that vote comes – and last night it looked extremely unlikely that they would be supporting Boris.

We understand people’s frustration and the wish to see the back of Brexit. But just because there is an appetite to get it sorted does not mean it should be done at any price.

If you had waited three years to get on the housing ladder you would not snap up the only property available regardless of the price or the state of the brickwork.

Having worn down the public’s patience the PM is cynically assuming people will swallow any deal in their desperation to get Brexit done.

POORER

On offer is a Tory deal written in the darkest of blue inks. It will make the country poorer and threatens jobs and livelihoods.

Worse still, it will allow the Conservatives to roll back hard-won protections for workers and paves the way for American firms to sell the UK hormone-raised beef and chlorinated chicken and to enter the NHS.

The right to paid holidays, protections for part-time and temporary staff and basic health and safety standards are all at risk.

This is worse than Theresa May’s deal and worse than what we have at present. The only thing in its favour is it is better than a no-deal.

Tomorrow MPS must decide what is best for the country, not what is best for the Conservative Party and their rich backers.